Attachment assembly for securing trim material to the padding of a ventilated seat

Various embodiments of an attachment assembly are described herein. In particular, the embodiments described herein relate to an improved attachment assembly for securing the seat trim to the seat padding in trench attachment applications in a ventilated vehicle seat.

Ventilated vehicle seats can include a frame to support the seat and to mount it to a vehicle, padding to cover the frame and made, for example, of foam material, an air permeable spacer layer, and an outer layer of upholstery. The upholstery may be attached to the padding and/or the frame by any known attachment assembly, such as a trench attachment application. It would be desirable to provide an improved attachment assembly for securing the seat upholstery to the seat padding in trench attachment applications in a ventilated vehicle seat.

The present application describes various embodiments of a ventilated vehicle seat. One embodiment of the ventilated vehicle seat includes one of a seat back and a seat cushion having an air transmission channel therethrough. Upholstery covers the one of a seat back and a seat cushion. An air permeable spacer layer is disposed between the one of a seat back and a seat cushion and the upholstery, and the air permeable spacer layer is in fluid communication with the air transmission channel. An air permeable tie-down strap connects the upholstery to the one of a seat back and a seat cushion.

Other advantages of the ventilated vehicle seat will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, when read in light of the accompanying drawings.

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a schematic perspective view of a portion of a ventilated vehicle seat assembly, indicated generally at 10. The illustrated vehicle seat assembly 10 includes padding or a molded foam seat cushion 12, and a molded foam seat back 14. The vehicle seat assembly is structured and configured for mounting to a vehicle floor (not shown).

The seat cushion 12 and seat back 14 include a flexible trim material or upholstery 16. The upholstery 16 may be constructed of any desired material, such as natural or synthetic fabric or leather.

The seat cushion 12 may also include a cushion portion 13 and an air permeable spacer layer 18 disposed between the cushion portion 13 and the upholstery 16. Although the exemplary embodiment of the seat assembly 10 illustrated in FIG. 2 shows one spacer layer 18, it will be understood that more than one layers of spacer layer 18 may be provided. The air permeable spacer layer 18 may be formed from any suitable material that allows air to flow through the spacer layer 18, as described in detail below. For example, the spacer layer 18 may be formed from polyester fleece, reticulated foam, or woven material. Alternatively, the spacer layer 18 may be formed from any material having a relatively high air permeability, allowing air to flow in all directions

In the illustrated embodiment, the spacer layer 18 is within the range of from about five mm to about 14 mm thick. In another embodiment, the spacer layer 18 is within the range of from about four mm to about 24 mm thick. Alternatively, the spacer layer 18 may be any desired thickness. It will be understood that the optimum thickness for the spacer layer 18 will only be determined by routine experimentation and by considering the space available and the required air flow performance. The spacer layer 18 may be as thick as possible, and comprise as many layers of air permeable material as possible, so as to maximize the movement of air and the cooling of the seat cushion 12 and/or seat back 14. The spacer layer 18 may be attached to the seat cushion by 12 any desired means, such as for example with an adhesive or with hook-and-loop fasteners. It will be understood that no such attachment means are required.

The seat cushion 12 may also include one or more air transmission channels 20. Such an air transmission channel 20 may extend between a fan 22, as best shown in FIG. 2 to the spacer layer 18. It will be understood that any desired number of channels 20 may be formed in the cushion portion 13. Additionally, any desired number of channels 20 may be provided in the seat cushion 12.